Cheat meal or day?
TdaniT
Posts: 331 Member
So I figure it is better to have one cheat meal (not a day, more like a week) than to have a cheat day. But if you end up having a cheat day (lunch/dinner), will it mess you up real bad? Today I wanted sushi for lunch so that is what I got. I ate the miso soup, side salad with ginger dressing, and 2 rolls (8 pieces each). Ouch! Tonight we are supposed to go out to the bar with my husband's coworkers. I only have 320 calories left for today. How do I play this? Not worry about it, while not completely obliterating my day? Or try to eat a small salad and drink water? I won't have time to exercise today unfornately.
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I don't call anything a cheat. It's just life. That said, I will frequently (once a week on average) have a dinner out or a pizza day that will get me over 3,000 calories. It hasn't hurt me in the least.0
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I agree that it's better to have a cheat meal than day but if I were you I would just go out and enjoy the evening then exercise like mad to make up for it in the week !!0
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I've had cheat days and I seem to gain 2 lbs. but I just get back to the diet the next day and within a few days I'm fine. It's life. Don't stress yourself out too much about it.0
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So I figure it is better to have one cheat meal (not a day, more like a week) than to have a cheat day. But if you end up having a cheat day (lunch/dinner), will it mess you up real bad? Today I wanted sushi for lunch so that is what I got. I ate the miso soup, side salad with ginger dressing, and 2 rolls (8 pieces each). Ouch! Tonight we are supposed to go out to the bar with my husband's coworkers. I only have 320 calories left for today. How do I play this? Not worry about it, while not completely obliterating my day? Or try to eat a small salad and drink water? I won't have time to exercise today unfornately.
What is your calorie goal? You have to realize that your calorie goal is a deficit from you maintenance. Your calorie goal isn't maintenance calories...so when you go over, you're still at a deficit...just less of one. If you're doing the 1,200 calorie thing or 2 Lbs per week weight loss goal then you have about 800-1,000 calories deficit per day in your goal...i.e. if your calorie goal is 1,300 calories to lose 2 Lbs per week, your maintenance is somewhere around 2,100-2,300 calories..therefore, even if you go over a little, you're still at a deficit regardless of exercise or whatever.0 -
I am stressing about it I think, well I know, because I feel like I should be losing more than I am and quicker. Other than last week and most likely this week, I normally lose a pound or just over a week. I exercise 30 mins (sometimes an hour) a day and I am still trying to get this calorie thing down. I am trying not to get discouraged and quit.0
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I've had cheat days and I seem to gain 2 lbs. but I just get back to the diet the next day and within a few days I'm fine. It's life. Don't stress yourself out too much about it.
FYI...you cannot gain 2 Lbs of fat overnight...'cuz science.0 -
As long as you log most days, you'll be fine. Life doesn't conform to strict rules for eating. You can always make up for it the next day by eating a little lighter or exercising a little more. Even if you don't, it'll eventually come off as long as you're not eating like that regularly.0
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So I figure it is better to have one cheat meal (not a day, more like a week) than to have a cheat day. But if you end up having a cheat day (lunch/dinner), will it mess you up real bad? Today I wanted sushi for lunch so that is what I got. I ate the miso soup, side salad with ginger dressing, and 2 rolls (8 pieces each). Ouch! Tonight we are supposed to go out to the bar with my husband's coworkers. I only have 320 calories left for today. How do I play this? Not worry about it, while not completely obliterating my day? Or try to eat a small salad and drink water? I won't have time to exercise today unfornately.
What is your calorie goal? You have to realize that your calorie goal is a deficit from you maintenance. Your calorie goal isn't maintenance calories...so when you go over, you're still at a deficit...just less of one. If you're doing the 1,200 calorie thing or 2 Lbs per week weight loss goal then you have about 800-1,000 calories deficit per day in your goal...i.e. if your calorie goal is 1,300 calories to lose 2 Lbs per week, your maintenance is somewhere around 2,100-2,300 calories..therefore, even if you go over a little, you're still at a deficit regardless of exercise or whatever.
Okay, that I didn't even know/think about. My calorie goal is 1340 a day with the goal to lose 1 pound per week. I want to lose more per week but I am having trouble getting this calorie goal under control.0 -
I am stressing about it I think, well I know, because I feel like I should be losing more than I am and quicker. Other than last week and most likely this week, I normally lose a pound or just over a week. I exercise 30 mins (sometimes an hour) a day and I am still trying to get this calorie thing down. I am trying not to get discouraged and quit.
Try taking a longer view...overall lifestyle...what and how you eat and move most of the time. Dieter's mentality will always lead to defeat.
Focus on the results and you will never see the change; focus on the change and you will always see results.0 -
So I figure it is better to have one cheat meal (not a day, more like a week) than to have a cheat day. But if you end up having a cheat day (lunch/dinner), will it mess you up real bad? Today I wanted sushi for lunch so that is what I got. I ate the miso soup, side salad with ginger dressing, and 2 rolls (8 pieces each). Ouch! Tonight we are supposed to go out to the bar with my husband's coworkers. I only have 320 calories left for today. How do I play this? Not worry about it, while not completely obliterating my day? Or try to eat a small salad and drink water? I won't have time to exercise today unfornately.
What is your calorie goal? You have to realize that your calorie goal is a deficit from you maintenance. Your calorie goal isn't maintenance calories...so when you go over, you're still at a deficit...just less of one. If you're doing the 1,200 calorie thing or 2 Lbs per week weight loss goal then you have about 800-1,000 calories deficit per day in your goal...i.e. if your calorie goal is 1,300 calories to lose 2 Lbs per week, your maintenance is somewhere around 2,100-2,300 calories..therefore, even if you go over a little, you're still at a deficit regardless of exercise or whatever.
Okay, that I didn't even know/think about. My calorie goal is 1340 a day with the goal to lose 1 pound per week. I want to lose more per week but I am having trouble getting this calorie goal under control.
K...so you have a 500 calorie per day deficit built into that goal. That would put your NEAT (Non Exercise Activity Thermogenesis) maintenance around 1,840.0 -
I don't cheat, I just eat. :bigsmile:
As others have said, this is my lifestyle - nights out, birthdays, holidays, etc are going to happen. I eat well the majority of the time, but I also still enjoy burgers, pizza, alcohol, desserts, and more. I go over on cals sometimes, but it all evens out. It hasn't hurt my progress and I'm still enjoying life.
My diary is open, have a look if you like.0 -
The weekends are my cheat days, though I try not to go TOO overboard. You might retain some water during that time, depending on your food choices, but in my experience I tend to lose faster after those "cheats" than without them.0
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Okay, that I didn't even know/think about. My calorie goal is 1340 a day with the goal to lose 1 pound per week. I want to lose more per week but I am having trouble getting this calorie goal under control.
That seems rather low. While it can be done, especially with regular exercise, you might find it less stressful to increase your calories and just have the weight come off a bit more slowly. That's what I've been doing, and it's much easier to relax and enjoy life without having to worry about making a low goal level each day. Here's a good website that will calculate your calorie needs at more levels of calorie reduction than MFP: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/0 -
Sometimes I go over on my intake, but I don't really see it as a "cheat" day. I don't purposely plan out days where I am going to eat poorly, but sometimes, life happens (especially days we eat out or have dinner with my parents!) I don't restrict or guilt myself about it. I eat when I'm hungry, drink lots of water, log EVERYTHING, and then move on. For me, it's more about being AWARE what is going in my mouth than "cheating"0
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I am going to start having cheat days once a week after I get past the loosing inches and not pounds faze lol or thats how its going for me anyway lol:) It is actually good to have cheat days, I was told that by a personal trainer. If you have them you are less likely to go over calories the rest of the week or have crazy cravings that will drive you nuts lol.. I plan to have maybe on fridays a pizza night or taco bell cause I love them but have stayed away for almost 2 weeks lol:)0
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Okay, that I didn't even know/think about. My calorie goal is 1340 a day with the goal to lose 1 pound per week. I want to lose more per week but I am having trouble getting this calorie goal under control.
That seems rather low. While it can be done, especially with regular exercise, you might find it less stressful to increase your calories and just have the weight come off a bit more slowly. That's what I've been doing, and it's much easier to relax and enjoy life without having to worry about making a low goal level each day. Here's a good website that will calculate your calorie needs at more levels of calorie reduction than MFP: http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/
How much slower than 1 pound a week should I go? I don't mean to sound snippy but it is slow enough as it is. I have 56 pounds to lose total and I am only 14 in. I am trying not to stress too much about the calories. What I am aiming for is an overall lifestyle change. It is very hard and I realize it is not going to happen overnight.
I really enjoy this site and the advise I get from everyone here.
Even when it may not be what I want to hear. lol 0 -
I work pizza and booze into my weekly eats because I know I can't live without them, or rather I can but I don't want to and this will make me (and has many times) break my diet.
Today I have eaten 3000 cals but after 1 hour of zumba and 1 hour of Body Balance my net cals today are just over 2000 which is still very slightly under maintenance. So technically today isn't a "cheat day" it's just a 'controlled non diet day'. I have two of these a week and I believe these boost morale, keep the body guessing and boost metabolism and motivation.
Try balancing your food with working out, earn those cheats and then they a\ren't cheats at all :bigsmile:0 -
Why cheat on one meal? You should have one day that you cheat, and it doesnt necessarily need to be as bad as you think. When I was doing weight watchers, they encourage to treat yourself. When we derpive our bodies of foods that we like, then we tend to over eat and thats when all the hard work we do goes out the window. Do everything in moderation. Just be able to be strong enough to get right back into it the next day. Allow yourself to enjoy life and dont stress over things, because that can be worse for you then overeating. Good luck with your decision!0
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I did cheat days for a long time, eventually it catches up to you and you stall out. Then you move on to cheat meals.
Try cheat days and see how they work for you, if they don't work for you then do cheat meals. Maybe try 2-3 a week, and see how that goes, if it doesn't work cut down one meal a week.
First of all, awesome weight loss!!! Secondly I try not to do anything considering cheat.... I do go over by a hundred or so calories sometimes but I don't worry about that too much. Today is different because it is hard to calculate the nutrition for sushi and it is my weakness. I know I am going to want to have some drinks tonight and I know the bar won't have Skinny Vine wine (love it for 85 calories for 5oz).
I figured I would ask all of you what you would do. Lots of great advice! 0 -
I try to do my cheat meal for dinner, I just eat like I normally do up until dinner time. I don't see much of a gain if I have a cheat meal instead of a day! Those happen too, just not nearly as often..0
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"Controlled non-diet" day. I love that Ellie!0
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I usually have a cheat day from noon to dinner and yes I gain either 2 or 3 pounds but I just jump right back on track the next day. I consider these days my lazy days cause I don't log them since I don't want to count or weigh anything on those days. If you could look at this as a lifestyle change and not a diet it will help. You will fall off the wagon sometimes due to unexpected things like you have tonight but that is life so just pick yourself up and keep moving forward. If you give up you will just be more miserable down the road and probably even more to lose. No it's not always easy but it is atttainable. I am at my goal weight and so now I am just maintaining.0
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Meal. a lot of damage can be done in a day devoted to gluttonous fun.
With that, I have them when I damn well please. If it ends up being 3 times in a day (which is unlikely) it's gonna happen lol.
haha another edit..It's not considered a "cheat" to me if it fits my macros and calorie goals for the day. I've seen people count pizza as a "cheat" and they're well within their calorie/macros.0 -
I've lost almost 20 lbs over the past 12 weeks and have a cheat day every Saturday. No holds barred. I don't track anything. I'm strict during the week and I work out hard. But that Saturday keeps me going psychologically.
That being said, I'm pretty much done eating for the day by late afternoon. After a sugary coffee drink in the morning, sweets or savory foods here and there and a really (bad) carb heavy lunch (often fried), I'm DONE. My stomach is in knots and I'm in the bathroom a lot. I get back on track on Sunday. I usually don't feel like myself until Tuesday.
As crappy as it makes me feel, it's totally worth it. Then again, today is Friday and I'm ready for some garlic cheese bread or a piece of cake! Ask me again on Monday and I might say otherwise.
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i never have cheat DAYS, if anything i will have the occasional cheat meal. or even better a treat meal where i still get to indulge a little, without completely going off track. for example, instead of going out for sushi and having two rolls (typically 6 pieces each) i will have just one roll with a seaweed salad and/or edamame.0
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go out and have fun.... don't call it a "cheat day/meal"... call it life....0
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If your goal is to lose one pound a week, you should be running a weekly deficit of 3500 calories from your BMR. So, looking at a "week," you can stay on track by being more diligent on other days with the deficit: by eating less or exercising more.
Get a few good burns in this week, and you should stay on track.0 -
I have learned that this is a lifestyle. Not a diet. Diets have cheat days. Lifestyles are just day to day.
With that being said, I still am within a caloric goal however, I do have days where I am over. I brush it off because, thats life. Its going to happen. Holidays, celebrations, nights out etc are part of life.
I am taking it easy today because tonight I am going out for my anniversary. Its all about planning too. Exercising more maybe if you know its coming, taking it easy earlier in the day, etc. But all in all, i dont let it bother me and as long as I stay in my calorie goal most days, we/you/I should be fine.0 -
I am a believer in 1 "free day" a week. I have lost a lot of weight over the past 10 years and have been able to keep it pretty stable by always going back to the 6 days of smart eating and 1 day that doesn't count. I think it gets me through all the cravings by knowing that i have a day set aside to indulge in a few "bad" foods. Of course after I started losing and feeling better, my free days became less of gorging and more of just enjoying a few treats that I normally could not have.
Just my experience, no science. lol 0
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